Jesus Speaks to 7 Churches

by Frederick Hoehn, copyright 2014, all rights reserved.

Chapter 1

The Book of Revelation is from one of the twelve disciples, John the Beloved.  The Lord revealed to John, and John wrote it down for us.

___Revelation chapter 2

1 "To the angel of the church of Ephesus write, These things says he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden candlesticks,

2 I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you can't stand those who are evil, and you've tested those who say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them to be liars,

3 And have carried, and have had patience, and for my name's sake have labored, and haven't fainted.

4 However, I have somewhat against you, because you've left your first love.

5 Remember therefore from where you've fallen, and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of its place, unless you repent.

6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

7 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches, to him that overcomes I will give to eat of the tree of life, that is in the middle of the paradise of God.

8 And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, These things says the first and the last, who was dead, and is alive,

9 I know your works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but you are rich) and I know the blasphemy of those who say they're Jews, and aren't, but are the synagogue of Satan.

10 Don't fear any of the things that you'll suffer, see, the devil shall throw some of you into prison, so that you'll be tested, and you'll have tribulation ten days, be faithful until death, and I'll give you a crown of life.

11 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  He that overcomes won't be hurt by the second death.

12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, these things says he that has the sharp sword with two edges,

13 I know your works, and where you live, where Satan's seat is, and you hold tightly my name, and haven't denied my faith, even in the days in which Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan lives.

14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to throw a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit fornication.

15 So do you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, a thing I hate.

16 Repent, or else I'll come to you quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

17 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches, to him that overcomes I'll give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written that no man knows except he that receives it.

18 And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, These things says the Son of God, who has his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass,

19 I know your works, and love, and service, and faith, and your patience, and your works, the last more than the first.

20 But I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed to idols.

21 And I gave her time to repent of her fornication, and she didn't repent.

22 See, I will throw her into a bed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

23 And I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the reins and hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works.

24 But to you I say, and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as don't have this doctrine, and who haven't known what they call the depths of Satan, I will put on you no other burden.

25 But what you have already, hold tightly until I come.

26 And he that overcomes, and keeps my works to the end, to him I'll give power over the nations,

27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron, they'll be broken to pieces like a potter's pottery, like I received from my Father.

28 And I will give him the morning star.

29 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

___Revelation chapter 3

1 "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, These things says he that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead.

2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things that remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.

3 Remember therefore how you've received and heard, and hold tightly, and repent.  If therefore you won't watch, I'll come to you like a thief, and you won't know what hour I'll come to you.

4 You have a few names even in Sardis that haven't defiled their garments, and they shall walk with me in white, for they are worthy.

5 He that overcomes, shall be clothed in white clothing, and I won't erase his name from the book of life, but I'll confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

6 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, These things says he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts, and shuts, and no man opens,

8 I know your works, see, I've set before you an open door, and no man can shut it, for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and haven't denied my name.

9 See, I'll make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they're Jews, and are not, but they're lying, see, I'll make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I've loved you.

10 Because you've kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation that shall come on all the world, to test those who live on the earth.

11 See, I come quickly, hold tightly what you have, so that no man takes your crown.

12 Him that overcomes I'll make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he'll go no more out, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, that comes down out of heaven from my God, and I'll write on him my new name.

13 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

14 And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God,

15 I know your works, that you're neither cold nor hot, I'd rather you were cold or hot.

16 So then because you're lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth.

17 Because you say, I'm rich, and increased with goods, and don't need anything, and don't know that you're wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked,

18 I advise you to buy from me gold tested in the fire, so you'll be rich, and white clothing, so you'll be clothed, and so that the shame of your nakedness won't be seen, and anoint your eyes with eye salve, so you'll see.

19 As many as I love, I scold and spank, be zealous therefore, and repent.

20 See, I stand at the door, and knock, if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I'll come in to him, and will eat with him, and he with me.

21 To him that overcomes I'll grant to sit with me in my throne, just as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

22 He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Chapter 2

The seven churches that the Lord is speaking to in Rev chapt 2 & chapt 3 are, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.

But the church at Laodicea was quite displeasing to the Lord.  So much so that he said he would vomit them out of his mouth.  Lord, please help us not to be lukewarm.

To each of the seven churches, the Lord makes a promise for those who will be overcomers.  These promises are very nice, and I certainly hope to qualify as an overcomer in the sight of the Lord, so I can collect on those promises, don’t you?

I’ve compiled a list of promises and confessions on the subject of Overcoming.  Here it is:

OVERCOMING

All my problems R plucked up roots & all & thrown into the sea. Mrk 11:23

And Fred encouraged himself in the Lord.

As my Father in heaven is perfect, so am I.  Matt 5:48

Be pleased, O Lord, 2 deliver me: O Lord, make haste 2 help me.  Ps               40:13

'cause I commit my works 2 the L, my thots R established.  Prov 16:3

'cause I fear God, I come 4th from them all.  Isa 46:10

'cause I order my conversation right, the L shows me his salvation.

'Cause I'm born of G, I overcome the wrld. 1 Jhn 5:4

'Cause I'm just, I come out of trouble.

'Cause I'm wise, wisdom strengthens me.

Faith comes by hearing & hearing by the word of God.  Rom 10:17

For sin shall not have dominion over me.  Rom 6:14

G always causes me to triumph in Christ.  2 Cor 2:14

G bruises Satan under my feet.  Rom 16:20

G delivers me fr the pwr of darkness & translates me into the kingdom of his dear son.  Col 1:13

G has given me all thngs that pertain 2 life & godliness.

G is my defense & the G of my mercy.

G makes us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.  Eph 2:6

G's anointing on me has broken my yokes.

Greater is he that is in me, than he that is in the world. 1 Jhn 4:4

Having done all, I stand.  Eph 6:13,14

He that does righteousness is righteous.

He that has begun a gd wrk in me will perfect it.

Holiness to the L.

Holiness w/out which no man shall see the L.

I abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul.

I arm myself w J's words  1 Pet 4:1, Isa 53:5

I avoid the appearance of evil.  Thes.

I bless & don't curse.  Matt 5:44, Lk 6:28

I boldly confess I'm an overcomer of temptation.

I bridle my tongue & control the whole body.  Jas

I bring into captivity every thot 2 the obedience of Christ.  2 Cor 10:5

I can do all thngs thru Christ who strengthens me.  Phil 4:13

I commit my works 2 the L, so my thots R establ. Prov

I continue on 2 know the L.  or, if we go on 2 know the L.  AND I DO.

I control the tongue & whole body.  Jas 3:2

I count it all joy if I fall into divers tempt.  Jas 1:2

I delight in the wd of G. Psa. 37

I command my mountains 2 go & they go.  Mrk 11:23

I do my promises & confessions daily.

I don't blaspheme or grumble or murmur or complain or gripe.

I don't get discouraged.

I don't give heed 2 seducing spirits. 1 Tim 4:1

I don't give place 2 the devil.  Eph 4:27

I don't grieve G's holy spirit.  Eph 4:30

I don't judge so I won't be judged.

I don't still live in unbelief.  (don't abide)

I don't turn again to folly.  Jer

I don't yield 2 sin, but 2 G.  Rom 6:13

I encourage myself in the L.  1 Sam 30:6

I endure to the end.

I fight the gd fight of faith.  I lay hold on eternal life.  1 Tim 6:12

I flee youthful lusts.

I forget the things that R behind & reach 4th to the thngs that R ahead, pressing toward the mark 4 the prize of the high calling of G. Phil               3:13,14

I 4give ev 1 of ev thing.  Matt 6:14,15  Mrk 11:25

I give diligence 2 make my calling & election sure.

I go from strength 2 strength.

I go from vict 2 vict.

I hate sin, as 1 who loves the L.

I have a gd resurrection

I have dominion over everything.  Gen 1:28

I humble myself & become obedient like Jesus.

I hunger & thirst 4 righteousness & am filled.

I keep G's word always B4 me.

I keep my mouth, so I keep my life.  Prov 13:3

I keep myself in the fear of G all day long.  Prov 23:17

I keep myself from idols. I Jhn?

I keep myself unspotted from the wrld.  Jas

I keep the flesh under subjection.  1 Cor 9:27, 11:1

I lay hold on eternal life.

I hold fast 2 wisdom.  She is my life.

I hold the mystery of faith w a pure conscience.  1 Tim 3:9

I hold tightly 2 confessing the same thngs.

I hold tightly to my profession of faith w/out wavering.  Heb 4:14, 10:23

I humble myself like a little child.

I keep my heart w all diligence 4 out of it R the issues of life.  Prov               4:23

I live by my faith.  Rom 1:17, Hab. 2:4

I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me & gave himself 4 me.  Gal 2:20

I live smthng like fasted life.

I love the L & hate evil.

I make my calling & election sure.

I make use of the washing of H2O by the word.

I obtain joy & gladness.  Sorrow & sighing flee away.  Isa 35:10

I overcome by the blood of lamb & by wd of my testimony. Rev 12:11

I overcome evil w good  Rom 12:21

I patiently continue in well-doing.

I put my trust in the L: how say ye 2 my soul flee like a bird to your mountain?  Ps 11:1

I quench the fiery darts of the enemy w my faith.  Eph 6:16

I reckon myself dead indeed to sin, but alive to God thru Jesus Christ our Lord.  Rom 6:11

I resist the dev & he flees from me.  Jas 4:7

I reign in life by Jesus Christ.  Rom 5:17

I reign with the L Jesus.

I rejoice 'cause my name's written in Lamb's Bk of Life.

I set my heart right & my spirit is steadfast w G.

I shout 4 joy & am glad 'cause I favor God's righteous cause.

I sit w Jesus in heavenly places.  Eph 2:1-6

I stay away from the things that drown men in destruction & perdition

I stay away from the things whose end is death.

I stay in faith & I keep the switch of faith turned on.  Jas 1:6

I submit myself 2 G & resist the devil.  Jas 4:7

I think on what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of gd report.  If there's any virtue or praise, I think on those thngs.  Phil 4:8

I walk in love to please the L.

I watch & pray so I have no tempt. Matt 26:41

If any man doesn't offend in wd  Jas

I'm an overcomer & I stay away from what's wrong.  Rev ch 2 & 3

I'm careful 2 maintain gd wrks.

I'm complete in the L Jesus.

I'm crucif w Christ.  Christ lives in me.  I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me & gave himself 4 me.  Gal 2:20

I'm dead 2 sin & alive 2 R.  Col 1:21,22

I'm delivered from the pwr & authority of darkness & translated into the Kingdom of his dear son.  2 Cor 10:3-5, Col 1:13

I'm faithful until death.

I'm happy 'cause I find wisdom & get understanding.  Prov

I'm made R by the blood of Jesus.

I'm more than a conqueror thru him that loved us.  Rom 8:37

I'm not of those who draw back to perdition.

I'm not overcome by evil.  I overcome evil w. good.  Rom 12:21

I'm 1 of those just men made perfect.  Heb 12:23

I'm perfect like my Father in heaven.  Matt 5:48

I'm pure in heart, so I see G.

I'm sealed until the day of redemption.

I'm strengthened w might by his spirit in the inner man.

I'm strong.  Joel 3:10

I'm strong, 4 it is written, "Let the weak say I'm strong."

I'm strong in the L & in the pwr of his might.  Eph 6:10

I'm washed in H2O by the word.

In Christ, I can stand in the Father's presence as though I'd never sinned.

In Christ, I've overcome the devil.

I've made a covenant with my eyes.  Job

In my patience I possess my soul.  Lk 21:19

I've hidden your wd in my heart so I won't sin ag. U.  Ps

I've set to my seal that G is true.

I'll not B ashamed nor confounded, world w/out end.  Isa 45:17 Joel

I'll walk w. the L in white.  He helps me to qualify.  Rev 3:4

I'm a new creature in Christ Jesus, old things have passed away, see, all things have become new.  2 Cor 5:17

I'm G's workmanship.  Eph 2:10

J destroyed the wrks of the d.  Jhn 3:8, Heb 2:14

Jesus has delivered me from the pwr of darkness.  Col 1:13

Jesus is my wisdom & righteousness & sanctification & redemption.  1 Cor 1:30

Joy comes in the morning.

Keep back your servant from presumptuous sins.

L brings 4th my righteousness as the light & my justice as the noonday.  Ps 37:6

L gives me deliverance from all my troubles.

L redeems my life from destruction & crowns me w loving kindness & tender mercies.  Ps 91:16

L will perfect that wh concerns me.

My affliction is light & works 4 me a far more exceeding & eternal weight of glory.

My body's the temple of H.G.  1 Cor 6:19

My eye is single.  I'm not of double heart.

My faith in G works.

My faith overcomes the wrld. 1 Jhn 5:1-4

My heart is right w G & I'm steadfast in his covenant.

My warfare is accomplished.

My way is made plain 'cause I'm R.  Prov

No tempt has taken me but such as is common to man.  God won't allow me to be tempted above my ability.  1 Cor 10:13

Sin shall not have dominion over me.  Rom 6:14

Thx, F, 4 the washing of H2O by the word.

The battle is the L's.  1 Sam 17:47

The carnal mind is enmity ag G.  Rom 8:7

The greater one is in me.  1 Jhn 4:4

The joy of the L is my strength.  Neh 8:10

The law of my G is in my heart; none of my steps shall slide.  Ps 37:31

The L carries me & bears me & gives me deliverance.  Isa 46:4

The L brings 4th my R as the light & my justice as the noonday.  Ps 37:6

The L delivers me out of all temptations.  1 Cor 10:13, 2 Pet 2:9

The L delivers me out of all trouble.  ref

The L establishes, strengthens, settles me.

The L feeds me w butter & honey & I know 2 choose the gd & hate evil & I do so.

The L girds me w strength & makes my way perfect.  He makes my feet like hinds' feet & sets me on my high places.  Ps 18:32,33

The L girds me w strength for the battle.  He establishes my goings.

The L gives me joy.

The L gives me songs in the night.  Ps

The L gives me the victory.

The L gives me understanding & I shall live.  Ps 119

The L has brought me out of my distresses.  Ps 107:28

The L has done grt thngs 4 me.

The L has established me.

The L has seen my ways & healed me; he leads me also & restores comforts 2 me & 2 my mourners. Isa. 57:18

The L has set B4 me life & death.  I choose life.

The L has turned 4 me my mourning into dancing.  Ps

The L increases my wisdom liberally & doesn't upbraid.

The L is my light & my salvation.  I don't fear.  The L is the strength               of my life.  Ps 27:1

The L is my strength in time of trouble.  Ps 37:39

The L is the fountain of living H2O's.  Isa

The L is the strength of my life & my portion 4ever.

The L redeems my life from destruction.

The L restores 2 me the joy of his salvation.  He upholds me w his free spirit.  Ps 51:12

The L revives me again.

The L sets a watch B4 my mouth;  he keeps the door of my lips.  Ps 141:3

The L speaks peace 2 me & I don't turn again 2 folly.

The L will perfect that which concerns me.  Ps 138:8

The L will C to it.

The name of the L is a strong tower.  I run into it & am safe. Pr 18:10

The spirit quickens me & J wds R life.  Jhn 6:63

There is not in me an evil heart of unbelief. Heb 3:12

Through the spirit, I mortify the deeds of the body & live.  Rom 8:13

We R not ignorant of his devices.

Whatever is born of G overcomes the world.

When I exercise my faith in G, I rcv the results promised in the wd.

These promises and confessions I try to speak out loud from time to time, following the teachings of Kenneth E. Hagin and Charles Capps.  Their websites are www.Rhema.org  and www.CharlesCapps.com    Hagin has materials at Amazon.com.

God has put teachers in the church, and I believe we ought to make use of the best of them.

___James chapter 1

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes that are dispersed around, greetings.

2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various temptations,

3 Knowing this, that the testing of your faith works patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, so you'll be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God for it, who gives to all men liberally, and won't find fault, and it shall be given to him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.  For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.

7 For let that man not think that he'll receive anything from the Lord.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted,

10 But the rich, in that he is made low, because as the flower of the grass he'll pass away.

11 For the sun has no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and the flower of it falls, and the grace of the fashion of it perishes, so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12 Blessed is the man that endures temptation, for after he's been tested, he'll receive the crown of life, that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13 Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted with evil, nor does he tempt any man,

14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away by his own lust, and enticed.

15 Then when lust has conceived, it produces sin, and sin when it's finished, produces death.

16 Do not err, my beloved brothers.

17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, nor shadow of turning.

18 He chose to father us with the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

19 So, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,

20 For the anger of man doesn't accomplish the righteousness of God.

21 So, lay apart all filthiness and the unnecessary naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man seeing his natural face in a mirror,

24 For he sees himself, and goes his way, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

26 If any man among you seems to be religious, and doesn't bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is for nothing.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

___James chapter 2

1 My brothers, don't have the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

2 For if a man with a gold ring comes to your assembly in fancy clothes, and a poor man in dirty clothes comes in also,

3 And you have respect to him that wears the fancy clothes, and say to him, "Sit here in a good place," and say to the poor, "Stand there, or sit here under my footstool,"

4 Aren't you then partial in yourselves, and have become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my beloved brothers, hasn't God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?

6 But you have despised the poor.  Don't rich men oppress you, and bring you before the judgment seats?

7 Don't they blaspheme that worthy name by which you're called?

8 If you fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, "You shall love your neighbor like yourself," you do well,

9 But if you have respect of persons, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as sinners.

10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

11 For he that said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not kill."  Now if you don't commit adultery, yet if you kill, you've become a breaker of the law.

12 Speak in such a way, and do, as those who'll be judged by the law of liberty.

13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment.

14 What does it profit, my brothers, though a man says he has faith, and doesn't have works?  Can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister needs clothes, and lacks daily food,

16 And one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you don't give them the things that are needed for the body, what good is that?

17 Even so faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead, being alone.

18 Yes, a man could say, "You have faith, and I have works, show me your faith without your works, and I'll show you my faith by my works."

19 You believe that there is one God, you do well, the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But don't you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Wasn't Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son on the altar?

22 Do you see how faith worked with his deeds, and by works faith was made perfect?

23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness, and he was called the friend of God."

24 You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also wasn't Rahab the prostitute justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For like the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

___James chapter 3

1 My brothers, don't be many masters, knowing that we'll receive the greater condemnation.

2 For in many things we offend all.  If any man doesn't offend in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

3 See, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so they'll obey us, and we turn around their whole bodies.

4 Look also at the ships, which though they're so large, and are driven by fierce winds, yet they're turned around by a very small helm, wherever the captain wants.

5 Even so, the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things.  See how great a matter a little fire kindles!

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of sin, so is the tongue among our members that it makes dirty the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and it is set on fire by hell.

7 For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of snakes, and of things in the sea, gets tamed, and has been tamed by mankind,

8 But no man can tame the tongue, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With it we bless God, the Father, and with it we curse men, who are made after the likeness of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.  My brothers, these things ought not to be.

11 Does a fountain send out at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brothers, produce olive berries?  Or a vine, figs?  So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man, possessing knowledge among you?  Let him show out of a good lifestyle his works with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, don't glory, and don't lie against the truth.

15 This wisdom doesn't descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be reasoned with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is planted in peace by those who make peace.

___James chapter 4

1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from?  Don't they come from your lusts that war in your members?

2 You lust, and don't have, you kill, and desire to have, and can't obtain, you fight and war, yet you don't have, because you don't ask.

3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask wrongly, so you can consume it on your lusts.

4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God?  Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world is an enemy of God.

5 Do you think that the scripture says for nothing, "The spirit that lives in us lusts to envy?"

6 But he gives more grace.  So he says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he'll run away from you.

8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded.

9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and cry, let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he'll lift you up.

11 Don't speak evil about each other, brothers.  He that speaks evil about his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil about the law, and judges the law, but if you judge the law, you're not a doer of the law, but a judge.

12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy, who are you that judges someone else?

13 Go on now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and make a profit,"

14 Actually, you don't know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is a puff of steam, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

15 For you ought to say, "Lord willing, we'll live, and do this, or that."

16 But now you rejoice in your boastings, all such rejoicing is evil.

17 Therefore to him that knows to do good, and doesn't do it, to him it is sin.

___James chapter 5

1 Go on now, you rich men, cry and howl for your miseries that shall come on you.

2 Your riches are corrupted, and your clothes are moth eaten.

3 Your gold and silver are rusted, and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh like fire.  You've heaped treasure together for the last days.

4 See, the wages of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which you've kept back by fraud, shouts, and the shouts of those who've reaped have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath.

5 You've lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton, you've nourished your hearts, like in a day of slaughter.

6 You've condemned and killed the just, and he doesn't resist you.

7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.  See, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.

8 You also be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is getting near.

9 Don't grudge against each other, brothers, so you won't be condemned, see, the judge stands at the door.

10 Take, my brothers, the prophets, who've spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

11 See, we count them happy that endure.  You've heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

12 But above all things, my brothers, don't swear, not by heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath, but let your yes be yes, and your no, no, so that you don't fall into condemnation.

13 Is anyone among you afflicted?  Let him pray.  Is anyone merry?  Let him sing psalms.

14 Is anyone sick among you?  Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,

15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he'll be forgiven.

16 Confess your faults to each other, and pray for each other so you'll be healed.  The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man is does a lot of good.

17 Elijah was a man subject to the same kind of passions that we are, and he prayed earnestly that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't rain on the earth for three years and six months.

18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

19 Brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone converts him,

20 Let him know, that he that converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.